System for fixing push rods to a chain

ABSTRACT

A system for moving discrete articles comprising a system for fixing push rods to the chain comprising: two opposite sides ( 20 ) that support a conveyor plane ( 21 ); two chain holder guides ( 22 ), opposite and fixed to said sides ( 20 ); two chains ( 23 ) with links with protruding pins ( 24 ) sliding inside said two chain holder guides ( 22 ); push rods ( 25 ) fixed in a removable manner, transversally to said conveyor plane ( 21 ), to said pins ( 24 ) of said chain ( 23 ); characterized in that it comprises: blocks ( 30 ) having a central hole ( 31 ) designed to slide with friction over said push rods ( 25 ); said blocks ( 30 ) having a pair of holes ( 32 ), lateral to said central hole ( 31 ), designed to slide with friction over said pins ( 24 ).

This application claims priority to Italian Application No.102019000015518, filed on Sep. 3, 2019, which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a handling system for discretearticles, for example usable for feeding containers or trays to apackaging or closing unit, in particular for foodstuff products. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a system for fixing pushrods to a chain with links with protruding pins.

BACKGROUND

Various systems for moving containers or trays are known.

Solutions are provided based on chains with integrated so-calledporters, of different shapes and heights, based on the product to betransported/pushed, or based on chains with links with protruding pins(single or double placed at a certain fixed multiple distance, calledpitch) arranged for the fixing of push rods thereto.

In this second case, the rod is mechanically constrained to the pinsprotruding from the links by means of fixing devices which prove to befunctional but not very flexible in case they need to be removed orreplaced.

In particular, a conveyor belt, in its most common shape, is made bymeans of a pair of chains of equal length with the ends coupled togetherand closed in a ring-shape. At a predefined pitch the push rods arefixed to the pins protruding from the link of the chain.

In an example of embodiment of the prior art, at the end of the pushrods 10, made in this case from square section rods, a transverse andhorizontal through hole 11 is provided in which a bush 12 is insertedhaving two through holes 13. The push rod 10 is placed in the centre ofa pair of pins 14 protruding from the link of the chain 15. The pins 14are inserted inside the holes 13 of the bush 12. The same operation iscarried out on the other side of the push rod 10.

Said operation must be carried out in a position of the chain in whichit is labile, i.e. the distance between the two chains can be widened inorder to insert the pins 14 into the holes 13.

Furthermore, to facilitate the movement of the objects, some throughholes are arranged on the push rods 10 where porters 16 are arranged,held by a screw 17.

Although the fixing of the push rods can be carried out in a differentway to that described above, the following occurs.

The fixing of the push rods to the chain is carried out by means ofmechanical parts, normally two for each push rod, which are obtained bymilling and/or turning, in addition to the aid of small parts forassembly.

The support and guide structure of the chains, binds and contains thepush rods at the ends, making assembly and disassembly operationsomewhat complicated and often not very easy, in particular because theoperation is possible only in given conditions/positions along the belt.

SUMMARY

The object of the present invention is to provide a system for fixingthe push rods to the chain which is simple to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a system for fixing the push rods to thechain, which is simple to assemble or disassemble.

According to the present invention, these objects and others areachieved by a handling system for discrete articles provided with asystem for fixing push rods to the chain comprising: two opposite sideswhich support a conveyor plane; two chain holder guides, opposite andfixed to said sides; two chains with links with protruding pins slidinginside said two chain holder guides; push rods fixable in a removableway, transversely to said conveyor plane, to said pins of said chain;characterized by comprising: blocks having a central hole suitable forsliding with friction on said push rods; said blocks having a pair ofholes, lateral to said central hole, suitable for sliding with frictionon said pins.

Further characteristics of the invention are described in the dependentclaims.

The advantages of this solution compared to solutions of the known artare various.

There is the possibility of optimizing the production of the blocks, atthis point standard for each type of application, with a significantrationalization of the machining costs.

In fact, said blocks could be produced by means of 3D printers or bymeans of traditional plastic and/or metal moulding.

The mechanical processes to be carried out on the push rods to ensurecoupling with the blocks are eliminated, with consequent furtherrationalization of production costs.

There is a significant reduction in assembly times and costs of thefixing group formed by the block and by the push rod.

There is also a significant reduction in assembly and disassembly timesand costs of the fixing group intended for the first assembly (saidoperations are obviously necessary at the manufacturer duringconstruction and testing) and/or machine set-up as different containerscould request dedicated push rods to be replaced every time according toa given quantity, and/or maintenance/cleaning, where currently saidoperations could be carried out with a given regularity.

Greater flexibility and reconfigurability of the conveyor belt in termsof changing the pitch between two push rods along its entire length, aswell as replacing one push rod with another for shape/need is alsoachieved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The characteristics and advantages of the present invention will becomeclear from the following detailed description of a practical embodimentthereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a system for fixing push rods to the chain, which isassembled, according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 shows a partially disassembled system for fixing push rods to thechain, according to the prior art;

FIG. 3 shows a handling system for discrete articles comprising a systemfor fixing push rods to the chain, which is assembled, according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 shows a system of fixing push rods to the chain, in an explodedconfiguration, according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a system of fixing push rods to the chain, partiallyassembled, according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a system of fixing push rods to the chain, partiallyassembled and placed in its seat, according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 shows a system for fixing push rods to the chain, which isassembled, according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the attached Figures, a handling system for discretearticles comprising a system for fixing push rods to the chain,according to the present invention, comprises two opposite sides 20which support a conveyor plane 21 and two chain holder guides 22, alsobeing opposite and fixed to the sides 20, which allow the movement of achain 23 with links with protruding pins, on one side thereof.

The chain 23 at given distances or at each link has pairs of pins 24protruding from the chain itself.

The system comprises, furthermore, push rods 25, made of square sectionrods, which are fixed, transversely to the conveyor plane 21, on bothsides to the chain 23 by means of the pins 24.

On the push rods 25 some porters 26 are placed, which help the push rods25 to move the articles.

The push rods 25 are fixed to the chain 23 by means of suitably shapedblocks 30.

The blocks 30 have an external parallelepiped shape, possibly withrounded edges, or having a section similar to that of the single elementof the chain.

The blocks 30 have a central hole 31 having the shape of the section ofthe push rods 25, and in the case shown, a square shape. They also havea pair of holes 32, lateral to the central hole 31, having the shape ofthe section of the pins 24 of the chain 23, which, in this case, arecircular.

The dimensions of the holes 31 and 32 and the positioning thereof insidethe block 30, is given by the diameter and distance of the pins 24, aswell as by the dimension of the section of the push rod 25.

In particular, in the case shown, given the typical dimensions of theelements involved, there are not three distinct holes but a single holehaving a shape given by two circumferences joined together by a square.

Preferably, the blocks 30 have, externally, an edge 33, arrangedexternally with respect to the chain, to facilitate the grip of theblock 30 during assembly and in particular during disassembly.

The porters 26 have a main portion 35 comprising a hole 36, having theshape of the section of the push rods 25, therefore it extends at thebottom with a thrust portion 37 of the most appropriate shape to fulfilits purpose.

To fix the push rods 25 to the chain 23, one or more porters 26 areinserted on the push rod 25, by inserting the push rod 25 into the hole36 and by positioning the same along the length of the push rods 25where desired.

The block 30 is then inserted into the central hole 31 on the push rods25, one on each side, and is pushed until the ends of the pusher 25 arefree.

The ends of the push rods 25 are arranged between the pairs of pins 24protruding from the chain 23, in the desired position.

The blocks 30 are pushed towards the chain 23 until the pins 24 areinserted into the pair of holes 32, which are lateral to the centralhole 31, until the block 30 comes into contact with the chain 23.

At this point the push rod complete with fittings (porters) is mountedwithout any tools or screws.

Disassembly is achieved by working in reverse of the assembly, by movingthe blocks 30, grasping the same by the edges 33 if present, and bypushing them towards the inside of the push rod 25, thus releasing it.

The blocks 30 and the porters 26 can be made, once the geometries of thepins 24, of the chain 23 and of the push rods 25 have been defined, byestablishing appropriate tolerances that create the sliding frictionnecessary so that they do not slip off along the push rod as a result ofthe chain vibrations.

Furthermore, the block 30 is not constructively subject to any tractionor compression force such that further fixing is required.

The geometry of the blocks 30 allows the sliding thereof along the pushrods 25 and the pins 24 of the chain 23 up to the point where theirmechanical coupling no longer exists, a condition whereby it is possibleto remove/replace the push rods 25 itself, at the same time the block 30ensures the anchoring of the push rods 25 to the pins 24 of the chain23.

Based on the same logic, the push rods can be customized, based on thetype of container that must be handled, by applying suitably shaped andpositioned/fixed porters without the need for additional small metalparts; said operation is even easier and recommended thanks to the easeof quick hooking/un-hooking of the push rods from the chain, by simplyremoving the blocks without any tools.

The materials used for the blocks and porters, as well as thedimensions, can be any according to the requirements and the state ofthe art.

The system thus conceived is therefore susceptible of numerousmodifications and alternatives, all of which are within the scope of theinventive concept; moreover, all the parts detailed can be replaced bytechnically equivalent elements.

1. A system for moving discrete articles comprising a system for fixingpush rods to the chain comprising: two opposite sides (20) which supporta conveyor plane (21); two chain holder guides (22), opposite and fixedto said sides (20); two chains (23) with links with protruding pins (24)sliding inside said two chain holder guides (22); push rods (25) fixedin a removable manner, transversally to said conveyor plane (21), tosaid pins (24) of said chain (23); characterized by comprising: blocks(30) having a central hole (31) designed to slide with friction oversaid push rods (25); said blocks (30) having a pair of holes (32),lateral to said central hole (31), designed to slide with friction oversaid pins (24).
 2. The system according to claim 1 characterized in thatsaid central hole (31) has the shape of the section of the push rods(25).
 3. The system according to claim 2 characterized in that saidcentral hole (31) has a dimension equal to the dimension of said pushrods (25), with a tolerance such as to create a sliding friction withsaid push rods (25).
 4. The system according to claim 1 characterized inthat said pair of holes (32) has the shape of the section of the pins(24) of the chain (23).
 5. The system according to claim 4 characterizedin that said pair of holes (32) has a dimension equal to the dimensionof said pins (24), with a tolerance such as to create a sliding frictionwith said pins (24).
 6. The system according to claim 1, characterizedin that said blocks (30) have a parallelepiped shape, possibly withrounded edges.
 7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid blocks (30) have an edge (33), placed externally with respect tosaid chain (23).
 8. The system according to claim 1, characterized inthat it comprises porters (26) which can be arranged along said pushrods (25) having a central hole (31) suitable for sliding with frictionon said push rods (25).
 9. The system according to claim 8 characterizedin that said porters (26) extend at the bottom with a thrust portion(37).